Flannery was a newbie Dad and last week's game wasn't a Challenge Cup knock-out contest, so not as vital that we have everyone on board.

Sorry but any employer worth his salt would let someone go to the hospital if their wife was about to give birth.

Some things are more important than rugby, no matter what he is doing his primary responsibility should always be his family.

If that was your partner/you you'd want to be there to see your child born. If work held you back you wouldn't be best pleased.

muppet

Don't talk sh[ii[/ite

Sheesh, that was profound!

I'm not talking sh[ii[/ite. No employer I have worked for has ever let a bloke skip work just because his wife's in labour. For feck's sake, us women have been doing it for frigging ever! So he'll be there eventually.

Now, if the wife was in trouble with the birth, if something didn't look so good, or it was already known that there were/would be complications well, that's a different ballgame altogether. I'd rent a copter and fly the guy there myself (well, I would if I could fly and had enough money to rent a copter).

Never wanted any man near me when giving birth - no thanks, I look a sight and feel like crap - and since nowhere I have ever worked would have let me go if I was a bloke, then I don't relate to what you've just said.

Sorry but Jen was spot on.

Everyone I know who has become a father has managed to get out of work to be there for the birth, its nothing new and I can't see it changing any time soon.

Infact when my Sister was pregnant she had a number of false alarms and her husband was allowed out of work to be with her for everyone without a problem.

Well then, you guys must have been working at very different places to where I have worked! Where I work at the moment, for example, they would simply say no. If the person decided then to, say, go off sick instead, they wouldn't be paid. (Don't get sick pay anyway)

Maybe you need to work for a firm of lawyers? That'll make you appreciate the tougher employment environments.

Incidentally, no employer is obliged in law to allow a man to bugga off halfway through a working day and be with his wife at the birth of their child. That's operated on a goodwill basis. Paternity leave kicks in once the child has been born (and some places, like mine, pay nothing)

But any employer who cared in the slightest about their workforce wouldn't consider trying to stop a father being at the birth of their child if that was what the parents wanted.

I think the club should be praised for allowing players to have family as their top priority and we certainly shouldn't question the dedication of the players for not wanting to miss the birth of their child.

Let Wello stay at home and play someone else. Too much of a risk if he has to leave at Half time for this one.

Well maybe not everyone has your views.

Who would you have at the side for your April fools joke?

That should be the standard reply for any of Damo's posts.